MARSHALL, Ill. (WTHI) – There will be more legal gun carrying residents in Illinois now that the state’s concealed carry law is in effect, but not without the proper training.

News 10 went inside a concealed carry class in Marshall to get the details on how gun owners are preparing to apply.

For these gun owners it’s day one of the required firearms training needed to receive their conceal carry license – and there’s a lot to learn.

“I’ve been an avid shooter all my life, but I’m learning a lot more. I thought I knew something before I came here,” said John Garver.

Garver worked for the Department of Corrections for 21 years and since then he’s been waiting for the state to pass this law.

“I made a few enemies working in there and I don’t know where or when I could run into them,” he said.

His classmate at Van Sandt’s Academy is here for the same reason.

“I find this training important especially if someone has never handled a firearm before. They run through all the aspects of proper gun safety,” said Todd Glick.

Aspects like grip, stance, maintenance and specifics of the new law are all part of the 16 hour training.

“Where they have taken things for granted before we are pointing out how quick accidents can happen by teaching safety techniques and how to be proper when handling a firearm,” Assistant Instructor, William Behnke said.

At the shooting range they learn something not taught in the classroom; being mentally prepared.

“When we are on the range it teaches us certain things that we do automatically then we get into a difficult situation that takes over and even though we may not be as calm as we are on a range we have trained our bodies to react a certain way to handle those situations,” Dave Bailey said.

Those who score a 130 at the shooting range will pass the class and then apply for their license.

Because law enforcement has 30 days to object any concealed carry applicant and the state has up to 120 days to issue or deny the license, we won’t see many permits for a few months.

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